Court Convicts Man For Cybercrime
A resident in Lagos, Innocent Owie, has been sentenced to three months in prison for indulging in internet fraud.
Owie, who was arraigned by the EFCC, was sentenced by Justice Dehinde at the Ikoyi Federal High Court having been found culpable of one-count charge bordering on cybercrime.
The charge which was pleaded guity to by the convict reads: “That you, INNOCENT OWIE OCHUKO, on or about the 20th June, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and with intent to gain advantage, held out yourself as “Hibrave Thugger” with an email: hibravethugger@gmail.com, through Google Account profile to unsuspecting victims, wherein you gained financial benefit to yourself through Bitcoin Investment Scam, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition Prevention etc.) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2015.”
Leonard Ayokor, an operative of the EFCC, said, “The defendant confessed his involvement in a Bitcoin investment scam. He also confessed that he assumed the fictitious name, Exxes, from the United States of America and that he benefited the sum of $1,000 AUD( One Thousand Australian Dollars).
“During investigations, an iPhone 15 and a Samsung S9 were recovered from him. He has restituted the sum of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) through Zenith Bank manager’s cheque.”
Justice Dipeolu, found Owie guilty and sentenced him to three months imprisonment, with an option of a N700,000 fine.
He equally ordered that the mobile devices recovered from him as well as the N300,000 manager’s cheque issued as restitution be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
